Darius Adams, M.A. ’22 (Student Affairs Administration), accepted the role of assistant director of Student Rights and Responsibilities at Valencia College in fall 2023, joining the Student Conduct team. Adams is continuing his higher education journey by concurrently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Higher Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Andrew Belanger, M.A. ’14 (Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education), recently concluded his second term as president of the Government Social Media Membership Council (GSM) and as committee co-chair and Northeast Region council representative, the latter supporting 17 states, including Michigan. GSM is the first professional association for public sector social media professionals in the U.S. and Canada. Belanger is statewide social media director and digital content administrator for the State of Michigan, supporting policy, training, best practice and content collaboration among the state’s 800+ accounts and 500+ staff.
Teacher Education assistant professor Christina Berchini Wyman, Ph.D. ’14 (Curriculum, Instruction and Teacher Education), released her debut children’s fiction book “Jawbreaker” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) in Fall 2023. Wyman drew on her own lived experience to craft a humorous, heartfelt and relatable tale about a young girl navigating the complicated coalescence of adolescence, family dynamics and self-image (read more here).
Angela Calabrese Barton, Ph.D. ’95 (Curriculum, Teaching and Educational Policy), was named a Member of the National Academy of Education in spring 2024. Election to the NAE represents the membership’s regard for Calabrese Barton’s research in equitable and socially just teaching, science and historically minoritized youth. She is the current chair of educational studies and a professor at the University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education. (MSU Professor Melanie Cooper earned the same accolade in 2024; read more here).
Liv Furman, Ph.D. ’22 (Curriculum, Instruction and Teacher Education), curated the “Afrofuturism & Quilts: Materializing Black Futures & Black Womxn’s Quilt Legacies” exhibition at the MSU Union Art Gallery in spring and early summer 2024. Furman is a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of African American and African Studies (College of Arts & Letters), bringing their love of quilts to the classroom and curriculum as “a teaching resource … like a book or an article” to study narratives and storytelling.
Director of Apple Development Academy Sarah Gretter Atkinson, Ph.D. ’17 (Educational Psychology and Educational Technology), cohosted info sessions alongside NFL experts as part of the 2024 NFL Draft programming in Detroit. Topics discussed were: sustainability, hospitality, sports management, women in leadership and information technology and mobile development.
Kristin Gunckel, Ph.D. ’08 (Curriculum, Teaching and Educational Policy), was elected to the NARST Board of Directors, serving as liaison to the External Policy and Relations Committee. Gunckel is a professor and member of the graduate faculty of Teaching, Learning & Sociocultural Studies at the University of Arizona College of Education.
Two-time college alum Terri Gustafson, M.A. ’02 (Teaching and Learning with Technology) and Ph.D. ’15 (Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education), began a role as director of academic affairs & educational technology at Northwestern Michigan College (NWC) in spring 2024. Previously, Gustafson was director of Educational Technology & Esports advisor at NWC.
In fall 2023, Launch Michigan welcomed former Educational Administration assistant professor Venessa Keesler Ph.D. ’10 (Measurement and Quantitative Methods), as its new president and CEO. Keesler led Launch Michigan in the first year of its transition from a coalition effort to a formal 501(c)(3) organization.
The Black Male Educators Alliance (BMEA) recognized Mario Lemons, B.A. ’12 (Education), STCRT ’13 (Secondary Teacher Certification) and M.A. ’15 (Teaching and Curriculum), as the 2024 Transformative School Leader of the Year at its annual Educators Gala. Lemons is head of school and a behavior interventionist at Detroit Achievement Academy.
Curtis Lewis, B.A. ’00 (Education), STCRT ’01 (Secondary Teacher Certification), M.A. ’03 (Curriculum and Teaching), TCRT ’06 (Elementary Professional Education) and Ph.D. ’11 (Curriculum, Teaching and Educational Policy), received the 2024 Fred Martin Educator of the Year award from the Coleman A. Young Foundation at the organization’s Scholarship Breakfast. Lewis is director of the MSU Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum program as well as an assistant professor in the College of Education. He is also founder/CEO of the Black Male Educators Alliance (BMEA).
In spring 2023, the University of Michigan Marsal School of Education presented Katherine A. Madden, Ph.D. ‘10 (Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education), with the Patricia A. Natalie Staff Award for Excellence. As the highest honor for professional staff, the award recognizes Madden’s dedication and commitment to excellence and team contribution throughout her 10 years at the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education. She serves as master’s program manager at the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education.
Building upon his years of experience as an assistant and associate professor at St. John’s University, Donald R. McClure, Ph.D. ’16 (Curriculum, Instruction and Teacher Education), became associate dean for Faculty Development and Student Experience at the School of Education. McClure previously served as interim chairperson of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. His classroom experience includes K-12, undergraduate, master’s and doctoral-level instruction.
The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges recognized Hilda Mejia Abreu, Ph.D. ’13 (Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education), as one of two recipients of the 2024 Iverson Bell Award. The award honors the legacy of MSU College of Veterinary Medicine alum Iverson Bell’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in veterinary medical education. Mejia Abreu is associate dean for admissions, student life, and inclusivity at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Alexander R. Miller, M.A. ’02 (Student Affairs Administration), began his appointment as vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Washington and Lee University in summer 2024. Miller brings over two decades of higher education experience to the role, previously serving as vice president of student life at Denison University.
After years of being the first to run on the field, Kinesiology instructor Sally Nogle, Ph.D. ’01 (Kinesiology), retired from her role as head athletic trainer for MSU Intercollegiate Athletics. In spring 2023, the College Athletic Trainers’ Society (CATS) recognized Nogle’s dedication to the profession of athletic training with the Jack Weakley CATS Service Award. Nogle’s career at MSU spanned four decades.
In spring 2023, MSU Director of Women*s Student Services in Student Life and Engagement Heather D. Shea, Ph.D. ’19 (Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education), became the 83rd president of the American College Personnel Association: College Student Educators International. Shea is the first Spartan to hold the position.
Jackson Magazine celebrated Sandy Wolfinger B. ’79 (Elementary Education), as Teacher of the Year in its spring 2023 Top Teachers edition. Wolfinger has nearly 25 years of classroom experience across multiple K-12 grade bands and is known for her compassion and connection to her students.
STUDENT AFFAIRS HONORS
Three alums of the 2015 M.A. in Student Affairs Administration cohort won dissertation of the year awards from three higher education associations:
Michael A. Daniels is an assistant professor of the Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs program at Kent State University. He won the dissertation award from NASPA (Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education).
Lauren Irwin is an assistant professor in the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Higher Education and College Student Personnel programs. She won the dissertation award from ACPA (College Student Educators International). Photo by Steven Bridges/University of Tennessee
Nadeeka Kaeunaratne is the postdoctoral research associate at the University of Utah’s McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention and an adjunct professor in California Lutheran University’s Department of Counselor Education. She won the dissertation award from ASHE (Association for Higher Education.
MICHIGAN LOTTERY AWARDS
The Michigan Lottery recognized three alums – Mcann Bradford, M.A. ’97 (Curriculum and Teaching) and TCRT ’97 (Elementary Professional Education); Dave Gorbe, TCRT ’05 (Secondary Professional Education); and Kellie Jo West, M.A. ’99 (Educational Technology & Instructional Design) and TCRT ‘01 (Elementary Professional Education) – with Excellence in Education Awards. The award rewards instructors and schools with a prize and educational funds.
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AWARDS
The Michigan Department of Education recognized Jennifer Senkmajer, B. ’90 (Elementary Education), STCRT ’96 (Secondary), M.A. ’98 (K-12 Educational Administration) and TCRT ’99 (Elementary Professional Education), as a Regional Teacher of the Year (Region 5) in 2023-2024. Alum Candice Jackson was named Michigan Teacher of the Year (read more here).
In 2024-2025, several Spartans were also recognized as Regional Teachers of the Year: Molly Dunham, B.A. ’94 (Education), STCRT ’95 (Secondary), M.A. ’99 (Curriculum and Teaching), TCRT ’01 and ’05 (Elementary); Cassandra (Brann) Eberhardt, TCRT ‘05 (Elementary), M.A. ‘11 (Teaching and Curriculum) and TCRT ‘12 (Secondary); and Melissa (Lyon) Frost, B.A. ’98 (Education). Alum Kelley Cusmano was named Michigan Teacher of the Year (read more here).
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